With time perhaps.
Time Idon’thave.
Sighing, I put everything back inside the box.Ican’twear any of this.The cardcatchesmy eye again, making me shiver.Especially not the toy.
I need room for the chillies.
Glancing at the clock, seeing I haveonly an hour to get ready thanks to my day-long moping session, I head for the bathroom.After a quick shower, I style my hair.Brush my teeth.Applya bit of makeup.Naked, I walk through the sitting room.My eyes linger on the gifts.The card.
Hurrying into my bedroom, I grab a random dress Ajax’s daughter picked out for me: a lilac floor-length beauty with a low back andwithslits running up the thighs.After pulling it over my head, I slipon a pair of black stilettos, then make my way into the sitting room.
Over to the box.
My fingers trail once more over the choker.
With a shaky breath, I lift the pieceout of the box.After a moment’s hesitation, Iplaceit around my neck.Then I thread the earrings on because it’ll be a sin if they’re not worn together.
Looking down, I realise that the dress he sentmewould be a much better matchwith the jewellerythan what I haveon.Trying to fight it, I walk back to the closet.Surely, there is another black dress I can wear.But none of them have the same feel of power and sin and… love as what’s in the box.
Blowing out a breath, I find myself back at the coffee table.Then I find myself in the dress he sent me, and oh, bugger, it fits like a glove.
Like we could fit together if he’d just give us a chance.
Shaking my head, I reach up to take the dress off again.It’s too much, playing wife to a husband who doesn’t want me.It’s toocruel.
But right as I start to pull the first sleeve off, the door to my suite opens.
Without a knock.
Without a request to come in.
And I know without turning around, that it’shim.
Thirty-Nine
Agood brownie always accepts a gift.
But this one will kill me.-Arienna
Knowingit’ll be the dumbest thing to take the dress off now,I drop my hand as I spin aroundto face my king.As soon as my eyes land on his facethough,I realise there’s not going to be any ‘smart’ decisions tonight.The way he’s looking at me is nothing short of a predator moving in on a wounded, exhausted prey.
I swallow hard as I drop my gaze, but if I thought looking down his body would be better than looking into his eyes, I’m a bigger idiot than even Fabia thinks I am.Because dear fucking gods, he is every inch a king.
Hestandsregally before me.Ablack jacquard tailcoathugs his shoulders,withamethysts on the lapelsthatdraw attention to his eyes.Aset of crisscrossing silver studded beltshold up a pair of black trousers, and a black button-up shirthidesbehinda purple waistcoat.A dozen buttons run down it, eachone depictingthe symbol ofRaza.
My mouth waters.
His left hand movesat his side, hisfirst twofingers and thumb rubbing together.
His eyes narrow.“You’re not wearing it.”
Itakea nervous step back.Danger!Danger!Danger!
“I said it was non-negotiable.”
I move around the breakfast bar, putting it between us.“I didn’t think it was a good idea.This get-up looks expensive, like there will be other people around”–of course there will be; it’s a ball,dumbie!–“and…” I stop as he roundsthe bar.He wasn’t supposed to do that!
“Oh, there will definitely be other people around.”The gap between us vanishes.My heart slamsagainst my chest, feeling cornered, caged, boxed in.“Everyone of importance will be there.Now where is it?”
